Button attaching machine



J. M. CLARK BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14. 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. (766/? M 6707/6 A TTORNEYQ July 24, 1934. J M. C RK J 1,967,662

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 14. 1932 8 Sheets-Sh e'ei 2 INVENTOR.

a (/OAI? M C/0K/ 7 By M -1@M ATTORNEY.

\Lk ML 1 i o O July 24, 1934.

m2 ms J. M. CLARK BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 14. 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 V INVENTOR.

BY I

A TTORNE Y.

July 24, 1934. J. M. CLARK 1,967,662

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14. 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 0 a BY F7 Jo 77 fl ATTORNEY.

July 4, 1934. J. M. CLARK BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14. 1932 8 Sheets-$113.61; 6

fa/ A27 INVENTOR. /m M. c/ar/t WM I'M ATTORNEY.

Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES TE T' OFFICE BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE John M.

Clark, Detroit, Mich.,

assignor to Universal Button Fastening & Button Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan This invention relates to button attaching machines, and among other objects aims to provide an improved machine for applying detachable buttons.

' The invention may be readily understood by 28 chine taken approximately on the plane -5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the ring hopper and its raceway;

.Fig. 7 is a cross section of the ring raceway taken on the plane '7? of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken through the button holder, the plane of the section being substantially the same as the plane 4-4 (see Fig. 3);

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the ring holding plate and the subjacent ring rotating device, which has been lowered below its normal position to expose its ring engaging head to view;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the attaching ring showing the extremity of the ring wire before it is bent by the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a view of a connected ring and button as it is supplied by the ring hopper (the intervening layer of fabric through which the button {.0 eye passes having been removed to facilitate illustration) I r Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the garment locating element and associate structure;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation taken approximately on the plane 13 13 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing another position of the ring dropping device;

Fig. 15 is a plan View of the button dropping mechanism;

Fig. 16 is another plan view of the button dropping mechanism taken from the plane '16--16 of Fig. 13, and showing the button dropping mechaism releasing a single button;

Fig. 17 is a plan section taken approximately on the plane 17-17 of Fig. 13 showing the button placing and orienting mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the button in a more advanced position;

Fig. 19 is a similar view of the same mechanism showing the button advanced to attaching position;

Fig. 20 is a similar view showing the operation of orienting the button prior to placement in attaching position;

1 Fig. 21 is a plan section taken on the plane 2121 of Fig. 13 showing the ring orienting and placing mechanism;

Fig. 22 is a plan section taken on the plane 22--22 of Fig. 13 (similar to that of Fig. 21 but with superposed parts removed to facilitate illustration) showing the ring advanced to attaching position; 7

Figs. 23 and 24 are plan sections similar to that of Fig. 22 showing the ring orienting mechanism in successive stages of operation;

I Fig. 25 is a fragmentary elevation taken from the plane 2525 of Fig. 24 of certain elements in the ring orienting and placing mechanism;

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the plane 26-26 of Fig. 21 showing a device for preventing displacement of the ring during the ring spreading operation; and

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the plane 27-27 of Fig. 21 showing the ring rotating and attaching mechanism.

The invention is here shown embodied in a machine for attaching so-called ring coat buttons 10 wherein the button is attached by means of a spiral ring which is threaded through the depending button eye 11 after the latter has been passed through a small hole in the fabric or garment. Buttons of this character are employed where it is desirable to detach them when desired from the garment, such as when the latter is being laundered. This may be effected readily by rotating the ring until it is threaded out of the button eye. In the present instance the extremities of the wire of the ring overlap in engagement for about one-half the circumference of the ring, thereby preventing accidental detachment and making the ring of double thickness for about one-half -of its circumference, the other half being only of single thickness. One end of the wire is advantageously offset inwardly as at 12 to facilitate manual attachment and detachment of the ring.

In the present case rings 13 are preformed and are fed as will be presently described, to attaching position in preformed condition and there threaded through the eye of the button by rotating the ring after one end has been registered with the eye of the button which is held stationary by a vertically reciprocating button holder 14. The button holder 14 forms the subject of my co-pending application Serial No. 626,435, and its details need not be described here since they are not pertinent. It will be sufficient to note that the button 10 is resiliently held by jaws l5 pivoted at 16 to the holder and resiliently pressed together by springs 17 so that they may be separated to release the button by the relative downward movement of the die 18 when downward movement of the holder 14 itself is arrested in attaching position. The aforesaid relative movement is permitted by a split, spring bushing 19 surrounding the die 18 and friction'ally gripping the same to prevent relative movement except when the button and its holder are arrested in attaching position.

The button is delivered to the jaws of the holder when the latter is in elevated position (see Figs. 1 and 2) and is carried downwardly thereby to attaching position (as shown in Fig. 4) where the ring is applied. As soon as the button reaches attaching position, relative movement of the die 18 commences and it moves down between the jaws 15 to separate them and release the button (see Fig. 4). Thereupon the button holder rises until the jaws arrive at button receiving position where their movement is arrested, and the die 18 then withdraws itself from between the jaws and continues its upward movement to the position indicated in Fig. 8.

As will presently appear, the button and the ring are simultaneously delivered to orienting and placing mechanism by which they are respectively oriented and advanced to attaching position. In other words, when a button is delivered to its orienting and positioning mechanism (presently described) a single ring in predetermined position is released from its raceway 20 and slides by gravity down its curved lower end (see Fig. 13-) through the aperture 21 in plate 22 (Figs. 13 and 21) and comes to rest (as shown in Fig. 22) on the upper surface of the reciprocating placing slide 23 with the single thickness portion of the ring in leading position, i. e., toward the front of the machine, and the double strand portion of the ring toward the rear. The extremity of the ring which is superposed upon the other extremity, terminates at 24. The other extremity of course terminates substantially on the opposite side of the ring and comprises the lower portion of the double strand. At the instant of delivery from the raceway the placing slide 23 is in advanced position where it has just placed the preceding ring in attaching position. v

In the present instancathe plane of the button eye in .attaching position lies substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine, and to register the end 24 of the ring with the eye prior to the threading operation, the ring is advantageously rotated a quarter of a turn from the position shown in Fig. 22. The mechanism for this purpose is here shown in the form of a slide 25 adjacent slide 23 and having a substantially semi-circular recess 26 therein to receive the ring when the slide 23 recedes as it does substantially immediately after the ring is delivered thereto. Upon such receding movement, the slide, 25 is permitted to move laterally under the pressure of spring 27 secured to the body of the unit at 28 and carrying a pin 29 which engages the side of the slide, and presently the ring is seated in the recess 26 (see Fig. 23) and on its opposite side is in engagement with wheel 30 rotatable about pin 31, one end of which is mounted in the body 32 of the unit and the other end in the superposed plate 22 (here shown removed to facilitate illustration). Thereupon the slide 25 retracts to the left (Fig. 24) rotating the ring until its extremity 24 contacts with the face or edge 33 of the slide 25. During this operation the single strand of the ring rolls in a clockwise direction in the channel 34 formed in the edge of slide 25. When the ring can rotate no farther between the channel and the wheel 30 (its end 24 having come to rest against the edge 33 of the slide) it comes into engagement with the end 35 of slide 23 which has in the meantime reached the extremity of its rearward travel (see Figs. 22 and 23).

Before advancing the ring thus oriented to attaching position, the double strands are separated to facilitate threading through the button eye. In the present instance the separation of such strands is effected by the tapered blade 36, carried by and located adjacent the forward end of slide 25, which is wedged between such strands during the continued rearward movement of slide 25 while the ring is held stationary against the end 35 of slide 23 (see Figs. 24 and 25).

While the strands of the rings are being spread asaforesaid, the ring is held against jumping upwardly by a spring finger 37 (Figs. 21 and 26) which is pivotally mounted at 38 on the superposed plate 22 and is pressed downwardly toward the ring (through the entrance opening 21) by spring 39. To permit delivery of a ring through aperture 21 at the appropriate time, the finger 37 is momentarily raised by engagement of its depending projection 40 against the tapered or beveled face of slide 23 which, being in advanced position at the time of delivery of a ring (see Fig. 22) elevates the finger slightly above the opening 21. The leading edge of finger 37 is upwardly beveled as at 41 to provide adequate clearance for the entrance of the ring.

Actuated by mechanism presently described, slides 23 and 25 now advance to attaching position, the strands of the ring being held in separated relation by the blade 36. the ring is delivered to a plate 42 secured to the attaching unit 43 by screws 44, with a portion of such plate projecting between the separated strands. The attaching unit 43 to which the ring is delivered secured to bar 45 of the machine by screws 46. Plate 42 is cut away as at 4'7 and has a semi-circular groove 48 around the remaining portion to guide the upper end 24 of the strand of the ring as shown in Fig. 9. In alignment with groove 43 is a recess in the form of an aperture 49 adapted to receive the button eye 11 and hold the latter transversely of and in registry with groove 48 which guides the extremity of the wire ring through the button eye. Preferably the periphery'of the recess 49 is beveled as at g 50 to assist in guiding the eye of the button into position. The portion 51 of plate 42 is inclined downwardly from its center to groove 48 to enable the separated strands of the ring readily to straddle the plate (which functions as a blade to j hold the strands in separated condition during application of the ring). The forward movement or slide 25 is arrested just short of attaching position whereas that of slide 23 continues and serves to push the ring from the strand separat- In such relation,

ing blade 36 upon plate 42. In conjunction with the latter operation, the cam 52 on slide 23 engages the curved projection 53 on slide 25 and moves the latter laterally, withdrawing blade 36 laterally from the ring as the latter is being pushed into position on plate 42. In this connection it should be noted that the forward end of slide 25 is channeled or recessed as at 34 to provide clearance for adjacent elements of the at taching unit (see Fig. 23). The forward movement of slide 23 may advantageously continue slightly (as here shown) after the button'has been positioned in attaching position, to bend the other extremity 12 of the ring (with which the end of the slide 23 engages) inwardly as indicated in Fig. 22. This inwardly bent or offset end facilitates the manual attachment and detachment of the ring.

As the ring is being placed in attaching position straddling plate 42, the button in the meanwhile is being lowered and its eye enters recess in registry with groove 48, and the ring is thereupon rotated approximately through an angle of 360 to affix it to the button eye. The ring rotating mechanism comprises a rotatable ring engaging head 54 located below plate 42 and adapted to engage the portion of the ring below plate 42. The member 54 has a headed portion 55 substantially equal in diameter to the ring and being downwardly stepped as indicated at 56 to provide a space for the reception of the inwardly bent end 12 of the ring. The head is provided with a groove 79 extending approximately through 180 of the uppermost face of the head 55 for the reception of the ring wire. Upon rotation of the member 54 in a clockwise direction, the end 12 of the ring is engaged by the face 57 of the shoulder formed by the downwardly offset portion 56 of the head, and is thereby rotated to thread the ring to the button eye.

The ring rotating member 54 is rotated in this instance by a reciprocating slide 58 having rack teeth thereon which engage the pinion 59 on member 54. Slide 58 has an axial bore in which is confined a coil spring 61 whose endsrespectively engage the slide at the end of the bore and plunger 62 extending into the bore and bearing against the face 63 of the attaching element. The spring therefore tends to press the slide to the rear to rotate the pinion 59 in a clockwise direction. The slide is moved forward by the main slide actuating lever 64 which engages a projection 65 adjacent the rear end of slide 58, as lever 64 moves forward in delivering the button and ring to attaching position. On such forward movement, spring 61 is compressed so that upon the rearward movement of lever 64, the spring returns the slide and thus rotates the member 54 in a clockwise direction to thread a ring. At the end of the forward movement of slide 58, the head 55 is of course rotated to a position to receive a ring. To hold the slide 58 momentarily in its forward position while the ring is being positioned (lever 64 in the meanwhile moving to the rear), the slide is momentarily locked by means of plate-66 (Fig. 3) which is pivotally secured to bar 45 by means of screw stud 67. The forward end 68 of the plate is pressed upwardly by the U-shaped spring 69 which presses downwardly on that portion of the plate which extends to the opposite side of its pivot. As soon as the slide clears the end of the plate the latter is pressed upwardly and holds the slide 58 in forward position. The slide is released in this instance to permit its rearward movement by engagement of the lobe 70 of cam 159 with the rear extremity of plate 66, forcing the latter upwardly and depressing its forward end to clear the rear of slide 58. It will be noted that upon the aforesaid release of the slide, the latter rotates the head 55, and the ring engaged thereby, by a resilient or spring action, thus affording protection against breakage by faulty button eyes, improper registration of the button eye, et cetera.

To provide clearance for the insertion of a ring to attaching position, the rotating mechanism is constructed and arranged to permit the head 55 thereof to be momentarily depressed so that it will be cleared by the ring. As here shown, the

shaft of the member 54 is rotatably and slidably journaled in a bushing 71 shorter in length than the shaft, and held against rotation and vertical sliding in the body of the rotating mechanism by screw 72. The head 55 is normally pressed upwardly into operative position by a spring 73 surrounding the shaft and located between the bushing and the lower pinion 59 (Figs. 23 and 27). The lower end of the shaft is provided with a depressing cam 74 whose upper face is periodically engaged by a cam pawl 75, pivoted at 76 to the under face of the mechanism 43 and pressed toward the cam by spring 77. The cam face 74 is in the present instance in the form of a threequarter turn helix and when engaged by the extremity 78 of the pawl serves on a counterclockwise rotation (when the slide 58 is moving forward) to depress the head 55 so that it is cleared by the lower portion of the ring. When the high portion 57 of the cam face rides under and clears the end 78 of the pawl, the head 55 is moved upwardly by spring 73, the end of the pawl riding in the blank quarter turn 79 of the cam between its high extremity 57 and its low extremity 80 where no camming action takes place. On the clockwise rotation of the cam, the pawl is wedged outwardly by the cam and rides inactively on its outer cylindrical face until the clockwise rotation again carries it into the aforesaid blank space 79'. Then upon the turn or counterclockwise rotation of the cam it again rides up the inclined cam face.

As here shown, the preformed rings and buttons are respectively carried in'rotatable hoppers 81 and 82 rotated by a shaft 83 which carries a. driving sprocket rotated by chain 84. The general details of the hopper actuating mechanism are similar to those shown in my Patent 1,798,970 and need not further be described.

The periphery of the'ring hopper is provided with passages 85 of the size to permit the rings to pass out of the hopper when lying flat. A

toothed ring 86 (Figs. 5 and 6) pressed into the hopper serves to loosen the rings and keep the same from bunching or massing together when the hopper rotates. Adjacent the outlet of the hopper is a cover 87 having a channel or slot therein wide enough to receive only the single strand portion of the ring. Thus if the ring attempts to leave the hopper with the double strand portion first as at 88 in Fig. 6, it cannot enter the channel section of the raceway and is either properly oriented by the rolling action imparted to it by the hopper or it is carried aroundand falls back into the hopper by gravity. Rings emerging from the hopper with a single strand portion in advance as at'89 can enter the channel of the cover and pass by gravity downwardly therethrough into the raceway 20. The raceway has a section similar tothat of the hopper cover (see Fig. 7), consisting of a narrow portion 91 which will receive only. the single strand portion i Fig. 14)

of the ring and a wider portion '92 through-which the double strand portion may pass. In this instance the raceway is formed of a body portion 93 and a cover 94 secured thereto by screws 95 (Fig. 4). The raceway is detachably secured to the hopper by a thumb screw 96 (Figs. 4 and 6) and at its lower end to the machine by pin 97 (Fig. 13). A sight slot 98 is out in the raceway to allow the operator to observe the ring supply and also to permit release of any rings which might become lodged. Although thecover of the raceway terminates at the releasing mechanism it continues to be-stepped, as shown at 99, Fig. 21. for the single and double strand portions of the ring. Adjacent the lower end of the raceway is a ring dropper 100 pivoted at 101 andprovided with leading and trailing beaks 102 and 103 adapted alternately to enter the raceway to prevent escape of the rings; The beaks are separated by a distance slightly greater-than the diameter of one ring so that when the dropper is oscillated, one ring may escape for each. oscillation. Normally the leading beak of the dropper is pressed into the raceway by spring 104 (see The dropper is oscillated by a slide 105 slidably mounted by means of screw 106 to the side of the machine and normally pressed downwardly by spring 107, thelower end of which is attached to the machine housing by pin 108 and the upper end of which is secured to the slide. An inwardly extending projection 109 is. adapted to be elevated by the oscillating lever 110 (which reciprocates the spindle carrying the button holder and die in my former patent) to raise the slide 105 and release a single ring which thereupon slides down the curved lower end of the raceway and passes through aperture 21 as above described.

The edge of the button hopper is provided with T-shaped passages. 111 through which the but-, tons when properly oriented may pass into the button raceway. The button raceway comprises a body portion 112 (Figs. 1 and 13) and covers 113 separated a distance 114 slightly greater than the eye wire diameter of the button. The raceway is detachably secured to the hopper by means of thumb screw 115 (Figs. 2 and 4) and to the button block at its lower end by means of screw 116. The buttons are'released singly at the lower end of the raceway by a pair of pivoted levers 117 and 118 pivoted on studs 119. A dropper pin 120 is attached to the free end of each lever and pro jects into the interior of the button raceway to alternately engage the buttons. Slots 121 in the body of the raceway allow the levers a limited oscillation. A coil spring attached to each of the levers normally tends to draw both of the pins into the path of the buttons. A torsion spring 122 attached byscrew 123 (Fig. 16) engages dropper lever 118 and normally presses it to the left as shown in Fig. 15, thereby projecting its pin into the path of the buttons. Lever 118 is provided with a projection 12 i (Figs. 13, and 16) which is engaged by the actuating slide 125 T to move both levers to the right as shown in Fig.

16 to release a button. Slide 125 is mounted similarly to slide 105 and is normally pressed downwardly by spring 126 to release a button. 7 An inwardly extending projection 127 is engaged periodically by lever 110 by means of which it is raised to move the levers to the left (Fig. 15).

Upon release of the button it enters the button block 128 (Figs. 13, 17, 13, 19 and '20) and slides down the inclined face of the slotted member 1 129 whose slot 130 is a continuation of the space 114 between the raceway covers. The eye 11 of the button projects downwardly through slot 130 and is engaged by reciprocating camming slide 131 having an inclined camming slot 132 which engages the button eye and advances it upon rearward movement of the slide (i. e., travel to the left in Fig. 17). With continued rearward movement of the slide, the button is cammed transversely of the slide and placed in the path of the button placing slide 133 (Figs. 3, 13, 17 and 18) with its eye located transversely of the slide (Fig. 18). The button placing slide 133 is actuated by a reciprocating bar slide 134 (Figs. 3

and 17) as in my former patent. The button camming slide 131 is also actuated in a manner similar to that shown in my patent, wherein lost motion between the movements of the slide 131 and slide 133 is provided by shoulders 135 separated a substantially greater-distance than the projection 136 on slide 131.

To position the button eye in the longitudinal plane of the machine for entry of the ring, the button is rotated a quarter of aturn from the position shown in Fig. 18 as it is advanced to the button holder. Upon advance of the slide 133, the latters beveled face 137 cams the button laterally until the opposite sides of the eye are engaged respectively by the flat face 138 on the slide and the projection 139 on the rail 1&0 (see Fig. The latter is pivoted at 135 and pressed toward the button slide by spring 140. Further advance of the slide turns the button 90, and in the latter position it becomes engaged in the narrow notch 141 on the slide which serves to carry it forward to attaching position (see Fig. 19). A shoulder 142 on slide 133 serves also to engage the rim of the button head to prevent its tilting or displacement when advanced to attaching position where it is pressed between the jaws 15 on the button holder. 'As the slide advances it moves or cams the rail 140 laterally (see Fig. 20). Slide 133 has 'a longitudinally extending slot or kerf which allows the narrow portion 143. carrying the projection'139, to extend into the button passage sufficiently to engage the button (se Figs. 19 and 20).

The reciprocating slide 134 which supplies the movementfor placing the button and ring in attaching position is actuated by mechanism close- 1y similar to that shown in my Patent 1,793,970 and need not therefore be described in detail. It will be noted that the slide is oscillated by bell crank lever 64, which is pressed forwardly (for the action stroke of the slide) by torsion spring 144 and retracted by the main cam 1 15. The latter acts through a cross head 146 slidable in the guideway 147.

The reciprocating slide 23 for positioning the ring is provided with an upstanding portion 148 of reduced width which abuts the face 149 of main slide 134 (see Figs. 3, 5 and 21). Pins 150 and 151 complete the connection of slide 23. Slide which cooperates as aforesaid with slide 23, is pivoted to auxiliary bar slide 152 upon pin 153. The latter slide is actuated by lever 154 pivoted at 155 to the guide housing 147. The short arm of lever 154 is provided with a curved rack 156 which engages rack teeth 157 on the cam follower 158. The latter is slidably mounted in the guideway housing 147 and pressed upwardly against cam 159 by helical spring 160. The long arm of lever 154 is provided with a reduced portion 161 which engages the auxiliary bar slide 152 through an elongated slot 162. The auxiliary bar slide is slidably mounted in a guide 163 attached to the bar 45. Lever 154 and its associated parts are pressed toward the right in Fig. 3 through the action of springs 160 and 164 and retracted to the left positively by cam 159. Slide 23 is provided with a depending rib 165 which operates in a groove 166 in plate 167 (see Figs. 18, 24, and 25) thereby constraining the slide 23 to straight line motion.

To assist in properly locating a small hole in the garment through which the button eye is passed upon attachment of a button, a leaf spring 168 (Figs. 3 and 12) is detachably secured to slide 133 by screws 169. The spring has a forked forward end 170 which straddles the recess 49 in plate 42 entered by the button eye. The spring is advanced to the position indicated in Fig. 12 when the button holder is raised, during which interval it assists the operator in rapidly locating the hole in the garment with the recess 49. Upon commencement of the attaching operation, the spring is retracted by slide 133 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the details of the illustrative apparatus above described, since these may be variously modified. Moreover it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used coniointly since various features may be used to advantage in different combinations and sub-combinations.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A ring coat button attaching machine comprising in combination, means for placing a button in attaching position, means for locating a ring with an end in position to enter the eye of the button, and mechanism for rotating the ring to thread the same through the eye of the button.

2. A ring coat button attaching machine comprising in combination, means for locating a button with its eye in a predetermined position, means for locating a preformed spiral ring with an end in position to enter the eye of the button, and mechanism for rotating the ring to thread the same through the eye of the button.

3. A ring coat button attaching machine comprising in combination, mechanism for threading a ring through a button eye, and means including a ring supply device for delivering successive rings to said mechanism in properly oriented position.

i. A ring coat button attaching machine comprising in combination, mechanism for threading a ring through a button eye, and means including a ring hopper and raceway having passages narrower on one side than the other whereby to pass a ring with the thinner side in the narrower side of the passages for delivering a ring to said mechanism in properly oriented position.

5. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, and a ring rotating element having means for engaging the ring to rotate the same to thread it through the button eye.

6. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, and a subiacent ring rotat ing element having a rotatable head provided with a recess for receiving a ring and a shoulder for engaging a ring end to rotate the ring.

'7. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination compriisng means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, a ring holder having a guide for guiding the ring wire through the button eye,

and means for threading the ring through the eye.

8. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, and a ring holder having a thin blade over which said ring is moved and which is adapted to extend between the double strands of the ring.

9. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, a ring holder having a blade adapted to enter between the double strands of the ring, and means for orienting the ring so that its double strands will be placed in a predetermined position relative to said blade.

10. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, a ring holder having a blade adapted to enter between the double strands of the ring, and means for spreading the overlapping strands of the ring so that the same may be passed over said blade.

11. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, a ring holder having a blade adapted to enter between the double strands of the ring and having a guiding groove for directing the ring wire through the button eye, and means for placing the ring on the said blade.

12. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, a ring holder having a blade adapted to enter between the double strands of the ring and having a guiding groove for directing the ring wire through the button eye, and means for rotating said ring to thread the same through the button eye.

13. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising means for placing a button in attaching position with its eye in a predetermined position, a ring holder having a blade adapted to enter between the double strands of the ring and having a guiding groove for directing the ring wire through the button eye, and a rotatable head below said holder and having a ring engaging recess therein adapted to engage the portion of the ring below said blade and rotate the same.

14. In a machine for handling rings for attaching buttons, the combination comprising a ring feeding device including means for feeding the rings in a predetermined position, and a device for engaging one end of the ring wire to bend the same inwardly to facilitate detachment of the ring.

15. In a ring coat button attaching machine, the combination comprising a ring feeding device including means for feeding the rings in a predetermined position, a ring holder for holding a ring in attaching position, a slide for engaging a ring and advancing it to said holder, said feeding device being adapted to place the ring in position relative to said slide so that the latter engages one extremity of the ring wire, said slide being movable to advance the ring to the holder and to advance sufficiently to bend said extremity inwardly to facilitate detachment of thering from the button.

JOHN M. CLARK. 

